Pros
With its entrepreneurial and international culture, a-connect is a truly dynamic place to work. The global team consists of less than 50 full-time employees, many of whom have top-tier consulting experience and a passion for problem-solving as well as business development. The company has an extremely targeted and selective hiring strategy – everyone in the team is here for a clear reason. I have never worked in a company where I had similar opportunities to tackle challenging business problems on a daily basis for clients, all with an extremely intelligent group of colleagues and consultants. a-connect’s client portfolio is quite diverse, ranging from the world’s leading financial institutions to life sciences companies, FMCG players and agribusiness firms. This makes for an interesting mix of project opportunities, as well as the chance to specialize in a core industry. For youngsters, a-connect offers a unique opportunity to work with top consultants on client projects, while also driving internal growth initiatives. Many Associates are primarily deployed to support complex client projects, and have also been tasked to open offices in other corners of the globe. a-connect’s flat hierarchy allows Associates and Project Managers to gain direct exposure to senior executives, working hand in hand with client teams and presenting their findings at key meetings. Overall, an inspiring place to work that provides ample room for personal growth and entrepreneurial drive.
Cons
- Despite the global nature of the firm, a lot of business and decisions are being driven out of the Swiss headquarters (though there is a constant drive to further strengthen presence in other regions). - As mentioned in some posts, the work environment is quite unstructured, allowing on the one hand for rapid growth opportunities, but on the other hand limiting people who need structure to succeed. Growth opportunities depend on whether you grab them or not. - The business model depends largely on personal client interactions – difficult to scale, and facing competition through online sites - Compensation could be improved to be competitive vs. other consulting firms